Summer’s Sweet Memories

Specialties

Homemade Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt and Sorbets

History

Established in 1984.

Family owned and operated for 30 years, Summer’s has operated as Toronto’s BEST homemade ice cream shop in the heart of Yorkville, Toronto. Ice creams, frozen yogurts, sorbets and all-​natural waffle cones are made on-​site daily, by a third-​generation ice cream maker.

Summer’s was founded by Len and Helka Tokey in 1984. Starting in a small storefront on Cumberland Street, they decided to sell homemade ice cream — a tradition in Helka’s family that began in Czechoslovakia in the 1930’s. Helka recalls stories of how her father would haul ice from the lake to their storefront in the town center of Košice to chill the cream and eventually sell as a delectable ice cream to the townspeople. It’s no surprise that they were able to translate that small-​town charm to their store in Yorkville, where they have established a devoted customer base that has spanned across generations. Customers who came in as children now return with their own!

Meet the Business Owner

Ron T.

Business Owner

Ron has managed day-​to-​day operations at Summer’s for more than 20 years. His experience in management started early when the family business expanded to four locations — a retail and production hub in the west end, plus three additional retail outlets. At the young age of 15, Ron managed their Yonge and Dundas location until the stores amalgamated to a single storefront, where it currently operates on Yorkville Avenue.

In 2007, along with his wife Lianne, Ron purchased the business from his parents and officially became a third-​generation purveyor of fine homemade ice cream. They plan to honour the store’s rich tradition of homemade quality while strengthening the Summer’s brand through product innovation and strategic partnerships.